Advice about 300mm f/2.8: seems soft wide open

billd17 · Mar 2, 2015

I bought a Nikon 300mm f/2.8 on eBay and I am disappointed with my initial tests. Physically the lens is perfect - no visible signs of wear anywhere, but optically the lens seems quite soft wide open.

I'm testing with a D800E, using live-view to focus (contrast based), shooting from a sturdy tripod, and shooting with an SB-910 flash - so its a really fast exposure to cancel any tripod vibration.

I attach two full-resolution crops - one at f/2.8 and one at f/4. Lines are crisply resolved in the second, but quite fuzzy in the first.

Any advice? Am I doing something wrong? I had heard that this lens was tack sharp wide open.

300mm full resolution crop - shot at f/2.8

300mm full resolution crop - shot at f/4

isson · Mar 2, 2015

billd17 said:
I bought a Nikon 300mm f/2.8 on eBay and I am disappointed with my initial tests. Physically the lens is perfect - no visible signs of wear anywhere, but optically the lens seems quite soft wide open.

I'm testing with a D800E, using live-view to focus (contrast based), shooting from a sturdy tripod, and shooting with an SB-910 flash - so its a really fast exposure to cancel any tripod vibration.

I attach two full-resolution crops - one at f/2.8 and one at f/4. Lines are crisply resolved in the second, but quite fuzzy in the first.

Any advice? Am I doing something wrong? I had heard that this lens was tack sharp wide open.

300mm full resolution crop - shot at f/2.8

300mm full resolution crop - shot at f/4

what version 300mm is it ?

WindwardHaole · Mar 2, 2015

How far are you from your test subject? Although the 300 can make good images at close distances it is not designed as a macro focusing lens, test at more appropriate distances. Don't expect the lens will be as sharp at f/2.8 as at f/4. I assume you are focusing manually and comparing the best of multiple shots at each aperture, this is especially important if you are using AF, there is no 100% consistent AF system. Go out and shoot the lens in varied conditions, it should have excellent IQ. Aloha.

mjb2 · Mar 2, 2015

I have the latest version of the 300 f/2.8 and mine is definitely a bit softer wide open than it is from f/4 - f/11. I'd call F/2.8 very sharp and the rest razor sharp.

billd17 · Mar 2, 2015

Its the f/2.8G VR II

billd17 · Mar 2, 2015

NikonHaoleboy said:
How far are you from your test subject? Although the 300 can make good images at close distances it is not designed as a macro focusing lens, test at more appropriate distances. Don't expect the lens will be as sharp at f/2.8 as at f/4. I assume you are focusing manually and comparing the best of multiple shots at each aperture, this is especially important if you are using AF, there is no 100% consistent AF system. Go out and shoot the lens in varied conditions, it should have excellent IQ. Aloha.

I'm about 20 feet (6m) from the focus target. I am using AF in Live View mode - my manual tweaks don't improve the focus over what LV AF does.

isson · Mar 2, 2015

billd17 said:
NikonHaoleboy said:

How far are you from your test subject? Although the 300 can make good images at close distances it is not designed as a macro focusing lens, test at more appropriate distances. Don't expect the lens will be as sharp at f/2.8 as at f/4. I assume you are focusing manually and comparing the best of multiple shots at each aperture, this is especially important if you are using AF, there is no 100% consistent AF system. Go out and shoot the lens in varied conditions, it should have excellent IQ. Aloha.

Click to expand...

I'm about 20 feet (6m) from the focus target. I am using AF in Live View mode - my manual tweaks don't improve the focus over what LV AF does.

yes both versions one and two VR are softer at 2.8 but still very good.

Rich Rosen · Mar 2, 2015

I can see a slight difference in sharpness, but it is very slight which is to be expected. Since I don't have any images from another 300 2.8, to compare it to, I'd have to say, that compared to my Sigma 120-300 at 2.8, your lens is very good. But my disclaimer is that I haven't shot any $1 bills...only $20's

. Kidding. The detail around Washingtons eyes at 2.8, is softer, then at f4, but that is to be expected. Whether it is softer at 2.8, then other copy's of this lens is another matter. Did you fine tune the focusing on this lens before testing it. It should be fine tuned at 2.8. Try that, if you haven't already.

larrywilson · Mar 2, 2015

Rich Rosen said:
I can see a slight difference in sharpness, but it is very slight which is to be expected. Since I don't have any images from another 300 2.8, to compare it to, I'd have to say, that compared to my Sigma 120-300 at 2.8, your lens is very good. But my disclaimer is that I haven't shot any $1 bills...only $20's . Kidding. The detail around Washingtons eyes at 2.8, is softer, then at f4, but that is to be expected. Whether it is softer at 2.8, then other copy's of this lens is another matter. Did you fine tune the focusing on this lens before testing it. It should be fine tuned at 2.8. Try that, if you haven't already.

The OP shot the two images in live view so af fine tuning is not a factor.

Larry

Rich Rosen · Mar 2, 2015

If you say so.

billd17 · Mar 2, 2015

I took a few more images tonight. Again AF in Live View with a flash. This time I illuminated the target with a modeling light. That made it a bit easier to focus accurately.

At f/2.8

At f/4

Its noticeably sharper at f/4, but still quite good at f/2.8. I need to find someone with another copy of the same lens to compare to.

mansod · Mar 2, 2015

I don't know if it's anything to go by but i checked "the digital picture" samples from the 300mm f/2.8 VR (first version I guess?) and it was also much softer at f/2.8 compared to f/4.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=2

But then again, other reviews state that there should not be much difference is sharpness wide open vs stopped down:

Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II Review - Page 4 of 6

photographylife.com

Lance B · Mar 3, 2015

I have the 300 f2.8 VRII. It is one of Nikon's 3 sharpest lenses, according to DXO Mark, the other two being the 200 f2 @ 34P-Mpix, the 400 f2.8 @ 33P-Mpix and the 300 f2.8 also @ 33P-Mpix. All tested on the D800E.

Have a look at this test result from DXO Mark, but used here on DP Review:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/len...cameraId2=nikon_d800&version2=0&fl2=300&av2=8

You can use different lenses mounted on different cameras and change apertures and with zooms you can use different focal lengths.

The 300 f2.8 is stupid sharp at f4 and f5.6, but then drops off after that, probably due to diffraction on the D800E. But at f8, it is about the same sharpness as at f2.8. Maybe you could try it at f8 and f2.8 and compare as that may be more even. Maybe try f11 as well diffraction may take the edge off enough to make it less sharp than at f2.8. If it is less sharp at f11 than f2.8, then I think your lens should be fine. Just a thought.

olstrup · Mar 3, 2015

IMHO, there's nothing wrong with your lens, and I'd be happy to use it. There are very few lenses out there which are as sharp wide open as they are stopped down 1-3 stops - and then often only in the center. The old 105mm f/2.5 AI-S comes to mind here. Also bear in mind that 300/2.8 lenses are usually not optimized for shooting at 6m distance. They are best at longer distances and may not reveal their best performance at those short distances.

Boushh_TFA · Mar 3, 2015

)You are not doing anything wrong. I have the same lens and yes, it is less sharp at f/2.8 than at f/4.0. Just like any other lens, the sharpness improves when you close the aperture. Nothing surprising about that.

Basing your purchase on what others say, is not a good thing to do with such an expensive lens. You should at least have rented it a few times to get your own impression of how it performs, and if the results are to your satisfaction.

But rest assured, there is no other lens in the Nikon line up that can give you these images at 300mm & f/2.8. So there is no comparison. It also has about the same sharpness from corner to corner, where most lenses are sharp only in the center.

Also, I hope you will not use it to only take pictures of test charts and bank notes ;-)

Nikon D600, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VRII @ f/2.8

Happy shooting !!

billd17 · Mar 3, 2015

Thanks for the advice.

And yes, I do plan to photograph subjects more interesting than test charts and bank notes - like the photo here (taken with my 500mm f/4).

If only my pesky job wouldn't interfere with opportunities to photograph wildlife.

Boushh_TFA · Mar 3, 2015

Aha, that is good to hear

Awesome pic btw !!

Here we only have those kind of birds in the zoo:

Nikon D600, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VRII @ f/3.2

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Advice about 300mm f/2.8: seems soft wide open

billd17

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isson

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Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II Review - Page 4 of 6

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